Mozambique: Last Renamo guerrilla base closure a major milestone to peace – Chissano

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Mozambique: Last Renamo guerrilla base closure a major milestone to peace – Chissano

1:06 CAT | 22 Jun 2023

FILE - The last Renamo base was closed in Vunduzi, district of Gorongosa, in the central province of Sofala, on Thursday, more than 30 years after the end of the Mozambican civil war. [File photo: Twitter / @ONUMocambique]

Former Mozambican president Joaquim Chissano on Wednesday called the closure of the last base of Renamo, the main opposition party, a “major milestone on the road to peace”, pointing to terrorism as the last obstacle to the elimination of armed violence.

The former head of state (1986-2015) was speaking during the lecture “Mozambique, National Independence: Gains and Challenges in the Concert of Nations”, alluding to the country’s 48 years of independence, which will be celebrated on the 25th of the month.

Joaquim Chissano urged all Mozambicans to commit themselves to maintaining the letter and spirit of the peace agreement signed in August 2019 between the government and Renamo, so that the country can live permanently in stability and security.

Chissano welcomed the “commitment” of political leaders for the country to “never again have wars emanating from political formations or groups of national citizens”.

Once the conflict between government forces and the armed wing of the main opposition party is over, the country must now unite in eradicating the “terrorism” plaguing Cabo Delgado province in northern Mozambique, Chissano added.

Stability and security throughout the national territory, he continued, are crucial for the country to focus on economic development and the well-being of the entire population.

The last Renamo base was closed in Vunduzi, district of Gorongosa, in the central province of Sofala, on Thursday, more than 30 years after the end of the Mozambican civil war.

The ceremony was attended by the President of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, and the leader of Renamo, Ossufo Momade.

The closure of the 16th Renamo base stems from the Maputo Agreement for Peace and National Reconciliation, signed in August 2019.

The ceremony represented the end of the demobilisation process of 5,221 guerrillas who remained in bases in remote areas and who began handing over their weapons four years ago.

This is followed by the reintegration phase, which includes the start of paying pensions to the demobilised soldiers.

Source: Lusa